When we asked our limey cousins to submit “Farscape” reviews (they get to see "Farscape" episodes about 11 days earlier than we God-fearing Americans), we really weren’t expecting every living soul on that miserable little island to step up. Hang on tight:
1. “Neil”:
Farscape 4.13: Terra Firma
"Merry Frellin' Christmas!"
I wasn't exactly thrilled by last week's episode, 'Kansas'; I thought they squandered what should have been a magnificent centre piece - John comes home, dammit! - into a poor excuse for some lame fish-out-of water gags and unsophisticated slapstick. Thankfully, 'Terra Firma' goes some way to making up for this shortchanging with a serious, gut-wrenching landmark episode which completely redefines the whole show in the process.
In a nutshell, John really does come home. He is greeted with open arms by his Dad and the Men in Black who can't wait to get their mits on Moya's tech and there's lots of political shenanigans about sharing the alien technology with the whole world, instead of the Americans just hoarding it for themselves, even if it does seem to be an academic argument as no one has the faintest idea how it works ("It's like a Neanderthal trying to figure out a 747"). Probably the biggest surprise of the week comes with a stark reference to the events of 911 to explain humanity's inhumanity; it felt like a hard, cold slap to the face - a healthy dose of reality in the middle of all this fantasy.
I just wish that Kemper and Co. had forgone last week's 'Back to the Future' homage and treated John's return to contemporary Earth as the two-parter it so obviously deserved. As it is, 'Terra Firma' crams a lot into the mix - Earth's First Contact with alien life-forms, a Predator-like alien assassin, yet more revelations concerning John and Aeryn's love life (just get a room!), John meeting his family again for the first time in years, Rygel's love affair with Popcorn, and, lest we forget, John's best mate, DK, is killed. Do we see John's reaction to this? Do we see him blame himself for accidentally bringing an alien nasty to Earth who then proceeds to slash his friend into sushi? Hell no, there's simply not enough time! Last, but not least, Scorpius and Sikozu decide they will would rather commit suicide than let the evil Servelan conquer Earth. Er... why exactly? As far as change of hearts go this one really does take the biscuit. Yet again, Farscape asks more questions than it answers.
One thing that continued to bug me throughout this episode was John's reaction, or perhaps that should that be lack of reaction, to making it home alive. Considering the entire premise of Farscape revolves around Chricton "just looking for a way home" it seemed wholly implausible that he would appear so nonchalant when it finally happened. Perhaps it's because the show has been here too many times before - albeit in dream sequences, alternative realities and alien-induced illusions - that a return home just doesn't feel all that poignant or fresh anymore. Sometimes it feels like Kent McCord (John's Dad) should be in the opening credits, he pops up in the series so much.
However, the episode sheds some light on this apparent failing during the final scenes when Chricton makes his preparations to leave Earth once again so he can save the Universe from the evil Scarens. The fact that Chricton always knew that this was just a temporary visit makes his reactions ultimately more believable and bittersweet. It also demonstrates just how far Chricton has changed during his travels; in some ways he's even more alien that the aliens (who spend the entire episode doing what they did last week - making lame fish-out-of-water jokes and generally having a ball). Perhaps John isn't really home at all - he belongs out there amongst the stars with Moya and her crew. It certainly brought a lump to my cynical throat.
At the end of the day, you have to hand it to Farscape - I expected a return to Terra Firma to happen in the last season, not the penultimate one!
Oh, hang on a minute...
8/10 for the sheer audacity.
2. “King of the Groovers”:
4.13 Terra Firma
Written By Ricky "Froonster" Manning, Directed by Peter Andrikidis
Oh no. The dreaded reset button. The "it was all a dream ending". Just kidding. This episode was FRELLING SUPERB!
Last week's was a quiet episode with a lot of laughs; this episode had a quadrant of things happening and was far from a comedy.
Crichton is home. This time in his own century. But as the episode begins, we discover he's feeling more alien than the friends he has brought back with him. Earth is no longer Crichton's home. His relationship with his father is now strained, he's still taking the drugs to suppress any romantic feelings toward Aeryn, and the American government doesn't want to share any alien technology due to the events of September 11th. Crichton's back home, but he's totally alone.
This story is rich in character. It is rich in asking the questions fans and viewers alike would ask when Crichton returns home. And it is written intelligently enough to answer most of those questions, and leave the other answers for the viewer to contemplate. It is also a story that takes advantage of the emotion.
The Crichton/Aeryn situation is addressed more prominently in this episode. Claudia is, as ever, terrific in her performance, showing just as much emotion and feeling in the subtext of her performance as well as the dialogue. And of course, Ben Browder is terrific as ever. This guy deserves all the awards under the sun! Browder had apparently stated that he couldn't believe they cancelled Farscape after viewing this episode. I totally agree (not that it has taken this episode to make me say so).
The father/son dynamic of Jack and John is tested, and begins in conflict, but ends where it should do. And of course Grayza has sent an assassin, which was left on Moya last week, which results with an action oriented ending, before the only possible conclusion of Crichton's return to tormented space.
David Kemper said that the last 11 are the most consistent 11 in quality. So far we're 2 for 2. If the first two are anything to do by, I totally believe him! To cancel a show of this calibre, should be a crime! Ricky Manning has proved once again why he is one of the best Farscape writers. This outing is about character, and it's about emotion. And another familiar Farscape character bites the dust (whether the BBC cut this scene or it was left to the imagination is unknown, but he's dead). In true Farscape fashion, this is one of the series' best, and the kind of quality we love to receive so frequently from the cast and crew of Farscape .
My rating: 9.5/10
Regards
King Of The Groovers
3. “Gaspode”:
Herc:
Thought you might like the American POV on the newest Farscape. –Gaspode
Farscape episode #413 ‘Terra Firma’
Written by Richard Manning
Directed by Peter Andrikidis
Here’s what this week’s Radio Times (the UK’s version of TV Guide) had to say: ‘Contact has been established between Earth and the crew from Moya, but Crichton refuses to share alien technology with only one nation.’
Before we get to tonight’s episode aired here on BBC2, I want to share a little story, dealing with September 11th, and believe it or not, Farscape. Don’t worry, it will all make sense in a moment. Shortly before the events of 9/11, the Sci-Fi Channel (back in the days when they still cared about Farscape) had arranged a series of promotional events to coincide with the end of filming on season three. They invited actors Ben Browder, Claudia Black, exec producer David Kemper and director/producer Andrew Prowse to New York en route from a Farscape con in LA, with Browder and Black continuing on to London to promote the show over there. On Friday, a bunch of us journalists showed up at Sci-Fi headquarters for a series of interviews; on Monday, September 10th, we were invited back for a cocktail party at a Manhattan club with the Farscape gang. Needless to say, it was a long night, particularly for those of us who had to make our way back to the wilds of New Jersey in the wee hours of the morning. Ironically, I’d planned to head back into NYC the next morning to pick up a new multi-standard DVD player, at J & R Music World, a stone’s throw from the World Trade Center. But after the party, I just couldn’t drag my ass out of bed the next morning. Until I got a phone call telling me to turn on my TV. And saw the events taking place just a few hundred yards from where I’d been planning to go.
So that’s my 9/11 story, and why I can’t help associating those events, in a circuitous way, with Farscape. But having said all that, I still tend to get a bit pissed off these days when people use the events of September 11th as an excuse to justify racist behavior (or presidential platforms), or worse yet, as a gratuitous crutch for television drama.
Which leads me to the one scene in this week’s episode of Farscape that really left a sour taste in my mouth. It takes place in a scene between John Crichton and his former astronaut dad Jack (Kent McCord), who’s now director of America’s agency for Extraterrestrial Studies. Crichton junior can’t understand why the US government doesn’t want to share the technology of Moya and its alien crew with other nations. When did we start getting so cautious? After September 11th, Dad replies. That’s when everything changed.
Okay, so it’s a minor quibble. After all, Farscape has always been known for its share of topical and pop culture references. But using a tragic (and still very recent) event of such magnitude may well produce a response other than that which the writers were looking for.
End of long-winded tirade, and back to the subject at hand. In ‘Terra Firma,’ Moya’s crew Crichton arrives in present-day Florida, where Crichton is welcomed by government officials, who hope to capitalize on the alien technology. The aliens themselves are bundles off to a heavily guarded waterfront mansion, all for their own protection of course. Rygel gorges himself on popcorn and burgers. Noranti and Chiana butcher Christmas Carols (did we mention the episode takes place at Christmas-time?), and Aeryn tries to deal with her continuing feelings for Crichton and the presence of his old girlfriend. As for Crichton, he’s beginning to think his homecoming isn’t such a great idea after all, with the US government refusing to share any of their newly-acquired information with the rest of the world. ‘The best and safest thing,’ his dad informs him in the aforementioned 9/11 discussion, ‘is to keep it to ourselves!’
Meanwhile, all is not well in outer space. While Scorpius guards the wormhole leading to Earth, Commandant Grayza has smuggled a deadly alien assassin aboard Moya. Now that the creature has reached Earth, its mission is to find Crichton, eliminate everybody else, and transmit the wormhole information back to Grayza’s ship. Earth destroyed, over and out.
Like last week’s ‘Kansas,’ this episode has a lot going for it. Sikozu and Chiana in bikinis. A champage-guzzlingChiani trying to pick up a US Senator. Rygel’s newfound obsession with Earth junk food. An intriguing exchange between Sikozu and Scorpius. The return of 1812. And of course, D’Argo’s last-minute arrival to save the day- I won’t go into the details, butit’s a pretty explosive scene.
But the biggest standout this time is Claudia Black, who is absolutely superb as Aeryn Sun, who’s trying to deal with her still-powerful feelings for Crichton. Whether it’s a scene with Jack, exchanges with Crichton’s sister and former girlfriend, or the powerful moment in which she discover that Crichton’s indifference may be caused by the drugs that Noranti has been supplying him, Black wrings the maximum emotional effect out of every moment.
And let’s not forget the opening line: “Was it a bass or a trout?’ C’mon, diehards, let’s help the newcomers here. And keep the Muppet jokes to a minimum.
4. “Garibaldy”:
A quick review of "Terra Firma"
Call me Garibaldy.
This is Farscape so far up its own contingenuity that even a hardened fan may get lost - the recap at the start of the episode ignores almost the entire of the previous episode (deliberately given the previous frelling with the timelines?), then the episode rushes on to its conclusion. Its a Crichton centred episode, and Browder brings off a subtle and moving performance - witness the scenes between him and his family.
The story is nothing special - space traveller/man from the future returns to Earth with technology that terrifies and amazes in equal measure. Farscape being Farscape, its the twists that make the episode -references to Sept. 11th, Chiana getting drunk and horny (was there any doubt?) with American senators, MIB gags and the "Servalan"/Braca scenes.
The Aeran-Crichton arc looks to be warming up again, but in the main this feels like a holding episode, which is odd given the enormity of the events therein. Still, the acting in the final scenes leaves nary a dry eye in the house, and you just know that something big is coming.
An average Farscape, but like Buffy and Angel, that's still better than most shows on a good day.
5. “Limber”:
Terra Firma
I'm a relative Farscape newbie, having only jumped on the bandwagon on the 24th and then arriving back in London just in time to get the call for episode updates. As such, I might not recognize some of the nonregulars, so... eh, sorry. I'll do the best I can. Also, I'll keep it spoiler-free till the very end.
We left Crichton pointing a weapon at his father, which is not the most auspicious beginning. But no matter - within a few seconds of the "previously"s, Sikozu strolls by and assures Crichton that all present (his dad, all the Men in Black) are no apparition - they've all been scanned and tested out as human. It seems that Sikozu's been handling all Earth-Moya interaction, having answered the first signals Earth put out. She's also a little ticked off - apparently, she and the rest of the crew have been loitering around the wormhole for about a month, just waiting for him to show. Crichton seems a little less than thrilled that Sikozu's been in charge, but he's even less thrilled that he's back on Earth. She prods as to what's wrong with him; does he think that his people pose as a threat? No - he thinks it'll be the other way around. Annnnnd credits.
I really enjoyed this episode. Crichton is somehow hypervigilant and controlled at the same time, but with a sort of assured arrogance that ends up alienating a few of his onetime friends. I don't think he intends to act so aloof, as his manner's pretty casual (which would only irritate his geek friends more, I'd think). The fact is, he knows too much, and he realizes this. There's no way to talk freely, as the past few years of his life are pretty much off-limits.
The interactions with his family are telling - the sister who's more interested in emotion than "answers", the friends who rail at his withholding ways, and then his dad.... September 11th makes a cameo of its own in this episode, and it seems that Crichton Senior has grabbed onto the jingoism concept with both hands.
This is the part that really, really interested me, having lived abroad for a while now and being out of the American Jingoist Loop. Coming home for the holidays was a bit of a wakeup, what with certain friends and family seemingly ignorant of the worldview regarding the United States and its policy - the international opinion just doesn't seem to be making it through American borders. I won't believe that this John/Dad conflict wasn't set up as a very, very telling contrast. Crichton is constantly told by his father that he doesn't know everything, that he's naive, that he's not seeing the big picture; Crichton himself is infuriated at his father's patriotic, paranoid tunnel vision. The Crichton-Crichton Snr. exchanges are swift and topical. Crichton sticks to his guns and won't be swayed. I don't think that the allusion thunks you over the head (cough*WESTWING*cough), and I liked the subtlety. It ran throughout the episode, and I appreciated it.
There's not much alien-human interaction of note. Food is appreciated ("Cop porn!") and bikinis worn, and a little retail therapy taken in with gusto. The exception is Aeryn, who gets facetime with John's father, his sister, his girlfriend... and almost gets to see NakedBabyJohn photos to boot, but not quite. The episode develops the Aeryn/John plotline a little more, at least on Aeryn's side. (And Caroline? Is one gutsy gal! I like her!) And for the action fans, there's a good helping of that as well.
And this might be a bit spoilery, so Herc? Do the honors?
There's something called... Screeth? Skrith? Whatever, it looks like an ingenious genetic brew involving some baboon/chameleon/mantis/Skeletor DNA. Between the talky bits and the Aeryn-y bits, Screeth keeps reporting in to Grayza through some mind-meldy deal with an unknowing henchman. And torturing people. And ruining Christmas. Bastard! Also - apparently, talk of kamikaze missions and bombs turns Scorpius and Sikozu on. And I'm not sure how I feel about that, but I'll settle on "queasy".
That's it, hope you all get to see the ep. soon!
Limber
ps - "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" - a new rendition, courtesy of over-Christmased aliens. Aieee.
6. “Drunkstan”:
Hi Herc
Here's a review of last night's Farscape that was shown on BBC2 here in the UK. There will be some minor spoilers ahead.
FARSCAPE 4.13 - TERRA FIRMA
To begin with, this episode contrasts wildly with the lightweight, but enjoyable 'Kansas'. Whereas the previous instalment was more of a joke filled romp, this is more sombre and character driven (although in the traditional Farscape style, there is some good old fashioned destruction and gun play towards the end). The cliff-hanger at the end of 4.12 left Crichton facing his father and other assorted humans as the crew returned to Moya in the present day. So has he made it home?
The thing about Farscape is that you never know what to expect. Could it be an Earth in a slightly different dimension, or a hologram, or a fake earth made by his enemies, or (insert sci-fi cliché here), etc, etc, etc…? In a very brave step, the makers have actually landed the crew at Crichton's Earth. The one he left 3-4 odd years ago on the Farscape module. He has achieved his aim of making it home. The Earth spotted Moya orbiting, sent out a signal and Sikozu answered in English. Jack Crichton and others then shuttled to the ship to await John's arrival and welcome him home. Is the end of the story? Not by a long shot.
All the crew is welcomed and invited to Earth. Their existence is revealed to the media and the planet is made aware that extra terrestrials exist, and the Earth is not alone. Scientists are allowed to examine the new technology (under the guidance of Moya's crew), and some humans even take translator microbes to aid communication. The crew is installed in a swanky beach house ('a gilded prison' as Crichton calls it) and allowed to go shopping, consume vast quantities of food, party and sunbathe. However, something is rotten in the state of Denmark. A Peacekeeper assassin has been sent to capture Crichton, who does not seem overjoyed at being home.
Crichton is a changed man. He no longer fits in on his home planet. His journey has seen some bad things happen to him (torture and madness) and he in turn has done some bad things (he is no longer the innocent who never use to carry a gun, he has killed quite a few times). Whereas John wishes to share information and technology with the whole world, Jack (now Head of extra terrestrial studies) and the US military wish to keep the technology for themselves in an uncertain, post 9-11 world. John knows that the earth will need to work together to combat the horrors and enemies out there, but cannot bring himself to tell his father the full story. Meanwhile, Aeryn gets jealous as John's old flames start to reappear and show affection towards him.
So, is it any good?
For those accustomed to the rip-roaring, shoot-em-up, adventurous style of Farscape, you may be disappointed. This episode is more driven by conversation and John's reactions to the changing world around him. He now feels more alien, than human. The episode may be too slow for some people's taste, although it is still well written and acted. There are some standard clichés present (the evil military wants to keep the tech for themselves and ban the rest of the world, the clumsy scientists ignore the alien's advice, etc), but on the whole, this is a one of the series more superior episodes. Whilst the Farscape World story is not advanced, the characters are. There is even a progression in the dragging John-Aeryn relationship, as she begins to pour her heart out to John, only to be rudely interrupted by an unexpected house demolition and gun fest.
However, the end of the episode leaves you with a sense of foreboding of things to come. You get the impression that some serious shit is going is going to happen in the upcoming episodes, and it's going to be a disappointment to fans that the cancellation will leave it unresolved. I predict the US Sci-Fi Channel will not be very popular. John Edwards told me my dead grandfather said this.
Back to the booze
DrunkStan
7. “Sidi Jow”:
OK 1st of I've gotta get 2 things out of the way. 1. Farscape ROCKS !! 2. This episode ROCKS.
Now on to the review:
This episode is bloody good. For starters John gets HOME........yes proper home !! No scaran mind tricks. No ancients frelling with his mind. He actually gets home.
We were left of last episode with John and co traversing the wormhole (to what they thought was) back to Moya. Instead they wind up back at earth in present time with Moya there and his father and some suits on board.
After some convincing John finally believes he's back. Initially everything is quite calm and we see John's happy reunions with his loved ones. But hey this is Farscape afterall things never go right.
In contrast to the last episode John's ship-mates.....yes all of them save Scorpious don't have to hide.
John is all 4 sharing alien technology with the entire world but the Americans (barstards lol) want to keep it 4 themselves. Another problem is the creature that was left on board to capture John.
Enough Spoilers already. I can't say enough good things about this episode. WATCH IT !!
score: 9/10
ps: At some point u said that u were watching farscape season 1 on DVD. Is a review coming soon?Also what do u think of the series?
sjforever
8. “English Mark”:
English Mark here again, with a review of the latest farscape ep in England. For those of you who take note, its episode 4.13 and named terra Firma.
First an apology. Last week I said that one of the people waiting in moyas hanger looks like Johns mum. It's not, just an anonymous extra look a like.
Sorry. Forgive me please?
The episode picks up where last weeks left, with John being met by his father, and a new character named TR, a presidential aide and advisor, here to welcome John back to earth. Naturally like all government employees, there only looking out for himself.
The episode then skips forward in time, with John telling us what happens- The aliens are presented to the people of earth where they become the center of a media circus, which naturally they love. They are given there own Florida beachfront cabin (but as John points out, the security makes it into a gilded cage). Scorpy has flown a pod into the wormhole, and stays out of the way for most of the episode (shame, I would have loved to see his reaction to earth). Naturally things have to become more complicated. Jack has become the head of extra terrestial studies, and he wants to examine the aliens technology, which they agree to cos earth is unprepared. They agree to this, however conflict happens when Jack (slightly manipulated by TR) wants to keep the technology and there research into it secret, so USA can defend itself in a post 9/11 world. I was quite surprised that they included 9/11 as a reason, but it actually makes sense. After all, ask yourselves if you had an advantage to defend yourselves wouldn't you take it? It could be considered by some as a bad taste move, but personally, I think it made for an even more compelling arguement, especially when you consider John doesn't tell anyone what has happened to him, as he doesn't want to scare anyone. John also wants to take 500 officials from around the world for a ride. Naturally TR wants just americans, to which John says no (I think there should have been a bit more conflict here, you get the sense that they hate each other, but it is never properly displayed). Two of Johns former assistants, who have got married in his time away are put in charge of this technology analysis. Aeryn meanwhile, is obviously torn by her feelings for John and the fact that an ex girlfriend of Johns turns up and puts the moves on him. It represents the pull for John between space and earth , and while is patchy in place, is well represented and handled overall.
Meanwhile, the alien (who actually even looks like the alien from the alien movies, with the jawline and wall crawling abilities. Oh and he can make himself invisible. Cool!) is instructed by Grayza to find out where earth is (she issues the order to convert her carrier so it can destroy a planet!!!!) and what the earth knows of wormholes, via a commnication device which allows it to speak exorcist stylee through Braca, which leaves him with no memory of what was said (a bad thing when you consider the spy now no longer knows whats going on) and whom Grayza fills in the blanks by telling him how good he was (you know what I mean)!
In te mean time, Sikozu meets Scorpius n the other side of the wormhole who is planning to close the wormhole, saving both John and Earth from Grayza by blowing himself up. However one pod might not do it, so Sikozu decides to stop with him, as two pods would definitely do the job
So Skreeth (his name is something like that, I can remember) heads down to the planet, and tortures the assistants with preying mantis style stingers until he finds out they know nothing, and kills them, and so goes after John. It confronts him at the Crichton home on christmas eve, where aeryn is asking John for an answer about how he feels about her, when skreeth uncloaks and attacks, knocking at Jack and Johns sister in a couple of moves, and smashing John through a table. Not much except when you consider the table is in the other room, with a brick wall in between. Aeryn opens fire, but its too fast, smashng through walls to hunt John down. After one hell of a good fight and Aeryns line of the week ("Merry frellin christmas!"), Aeryn shoots a chandlier, skewering Skreeth, bt like all good villains, it comes back and is about to finish off John and Aeyn, where D'Argo appears and shoots Skreeth with the canons of his ship, blasting Skreeth ot of the other end of the house and killing him! This leads John to decide that hes more valauble out in space, by stopping Grayza altogether ("I've got a job to do"), and leaves on Christmas morning to promise to be back soon. Finally on Moya, Aeryn finds out about the drug Crichton was taking to forget about Aeryn, and she didnt look happy.
Overall, this episode was one of the best of this season, which despite it's early scrappy nature, has recovered nicely, even though I can't see where John can go next. Thank goodness for next weeks episode. This more focused on character, and the John and Aryn plotline. It acted as a resolver for all the plots up until now, as hes been back to earth but realises he can't stay. The acting as always was superb. the only complaint I had was we should have seen more of the aliens interaction with earth (although chiana in a red bikini certainly made it better!). In other words watch this episode if you like drama. If you don't, you don't deserve a tv, or farscape. until next time fare thee well!
9. “BH”:
I have seen Farscape's latest Episode, "Terra Firma" and it continues in the farscape tradition of kicking its previous episode, "Kansas" in the ass (and that kicked the nuts off of its previous episode, "Unrealized Reality").
Here Crichton returns home to find a completely different Earth than the one he left behind. Hoping that all the countries of Earth to unite and benefit from the technology brought by him, Moya and her crew, in order to join the rest of the Universe, he finds that HUMANS are not ready to join the universe, especially his Father (Kent McCord) and the United States Government. Also his girlfriend Carolyn shows up again hoping to rekindle an old flame, while Aeryn watches on. But lurking in the shadows, an alien Assassin hunts down Crichton for the wormhole technology for Graza, endangering not only John, but Moya's crew and humanity itself.
There are many moments that show are departures from the shows usual alien parade, like John reconnecting with his sister while looking at a photo album, that stand out in some of TV's best acting moments every by Ben Browder. He's THAT good! Kent McCord playing the REAL father of John (before he was just a recreation from his memories, we all know that!) pulls out all stops as a man who has to live in a world forever changed by the events of 9/11, something John can understand but can't comprehend since he was too busy in space! John has seen terrible things and is distant from his friends and family, something everybody senses.
Scorpious is on a Pod waiting at the other end of the wormhole, and Shizku joins him, not adjusting to Earthly life like Chiana, Rigel, Noriantu and Dargo are, and learns that Scorpious has a plan to safeguard the wormhole leading to Earth, and their relationship starts to take "another level up". You just have to see it to believe it.
A shining moment here is Aeryn taking John's father for a spin on the prowler, going past Saturn's rings, giving a moment between the two which really pays off at the end of the episode when Aeryn is return John's sister's clothes to her and is desperately asking for any answer from John about their relationship, yet something always happens and those answers have to wait for later as the Alien Assassin finds its way to John's home and attacks them.
Every episode of this series stands out from each other, and entire seasons of this show stands out from each other. We all know what an awesome show this is overall but what makes me CRAVE this show is that i don't know where each episode takes me!
This show should survive to tell ALL it's stories that it has to tell, and by seeing what they've done, the sky's the limit!
BH
10. “Charlie & Tex”:
FARSCAPE 4.13 – TERRA FIRMA
Following on from the previous episode, Crichton finds himself back on Earth in the present day, where he is greeted by his family and is hailed a hero.
The US government welcomes the non-human-looking crew of Moya, but they are confined to a luxury villa in Florida under armed guard. Crichton wants to share the technology he has brought with him with all nations, but the Government is reluctant – even Crichton’s once open-minded father, Jack, does not wish to share with the rest of the world.
Crichton must convince his father, without giving explicit details, that if the world does not unite, then Earth does not stand a chance if it ever gets invaded by the Scarens or the Peacekeepers.
To muddy the already opaque water that is the on/off love affair between Crichton & Aeryn, Crichton’s old flame back home is VERY pleased to see him. Whilst battles of the heart rage on, the creature sent to track down Crichton has made it down to Earth and is hot on his trail, killing several poor sods who get in it’s way…
Although the story continues straight on from last week’s episode, the tone could not be more different – there are only one-or-two of the “aliens-adjusting-to-life-on-Earth” jokes that were rife in the previous episode (but we’re sure that there will be more than a little interest in bikini’d members of Moya’s crew). These are quickly gotten out of the way to make room for a much more dramatic storyline.
The incorporation of 9/11 into the story is sensitively handled and provides a real reason why Crichton’s father is reluctant to share alien technology with all nations of the world. As a pioneering astronaut, Crichton Snr was all for the free sharing of technology to the rest of the world, optimistic that the world would unite for the common good. But that was pre-9/11, and now Crichton’s father must overcome his strong feelings to try & help the world unite to save itself from an even darker threat than he knows.
A very cool sequence shows Areyn taking Jack Crichton on a nostalgic trip back to the Moon in her Prowler, swinging by Saturn along the way – some great FX and good performances really sell the scene and punch home a conclusion to a key plot strand in a very satisfying way.
The sexual content of the show is pushed way up in this episode, as Grayza uses a device to communicate to the deadly DNA tracker via the hapless Braca – who has no recollection of relaying messages, instead thinking that he has spent the time up Grayza’s own personal wormhole. It must be the season of goodwill to ALL men, as even Scorpius gets laid…
The climax of this episode is very reminiscent of the ending of Star Trek V, where a huge ship appears during what looks like a hopeless situation and uses it’s weaponry to save the day. And all this around the Christmas tree!
Farscape’s fourth season really seems to have hit it’s stride, if the rest of the series is as good as the last couple of episodes, then it will at least go out on a high, which is more than can be said for shows that are guaranteed a seven year run regardless of how dire they become…
11. “Atropos Aletheia”:
There is nothing to fear, but fear of puppets.
And boy, Farscape sure don't fear no puppets.
I have a confession to make: as we all know, Farscape's been cancelled by the suits over at SciFi. As a 'Scaper, I've been right in there calling them all kinds of crazy, but deep, deep down, in that dark and scary place I don't want to acknowledge, the part of me that was scared of Kermit as a child and thought Yoda looked cooler in Episode 2, I've been wondering if it wasn't the right thing to do. Let's face it, Season 4 of Farscape, while head'n'shoulders above the normal dren you get on TV nowadays, hasn't really been THAT great. At least when compared to what went before. So that dark ugly twisted part of me began thinking that maybe Farscape SHOULD be put down, and live on in glorious memory - rather than soiling its own good name. CoughSimpsonscough.
That is why I am incredibly pleased to say that Farscape 4x13 allowed me to hog-tie that subconscious little whiner, hang him up by his eyelids and then force him to blink.
The episode kicks off where we left'em last week, with Crichton finally back on Earth - and in the right year. There doesn't seem to be any major damage after last weeks temporal mischief, and John finally gets to say hi to the folks, as it were. All is not peachy though. As a reviewer pointed out after last weeks episode, "Farscape" has a tendency to turn dark shortly after a comic episode. Last week, they got all the mandatory "fish-out-of-water"-hijinx on earth over with, and now its time to get serious. John quickly realises that he has changed a great deal after nearly four years in space, and meeting up with his dad, sister, and last-but-not-least, girlfriend - who seems eager to continue where they left off - isn't the happy reunion he imagined it to be. Aeryn is none too pleased either, as she's still head-over-heels with John. Our hero, meanwhile, is still on emotion-dampening drugs supplied by Noranti (also known as The Old Woman No-one Likes).
It's not just John who's changed, though. Post 9/11, John's dad no longer thinks of spacetravel as a way to unite humanity. Instead he and the men in black try their best to convince John that the alien technology should stay exclusively in U.S. hands, to ensure their superiority. John, knowing what he knows, wants the marvels he's brought back shared among all mankind, so they can be ready if and when some intergalactic baddies come a'knocking. This causes some serious friction and soul-searching, as John realises he can't tell anyone on earth - not even his dad - about what really awaits mankind amongst the stars.
Then there's Grayza (or "Commander Cleavage" as John has dubbed her, for obvious reasons) remote-controlling the hideous beastie she left on Moya last episode, while Scorpius and Sikozu get all hot and bothered in the wormhole while constructing large explosive devices.
Yep, like I said, it's all taking a turn for the worse for the crew of Moya... Still, it's not all doom and gloom. There are some terrific moments where Aeryn bonds with Jack Crichton while on a joyride to Saturn, and of course Chiana gets some slutting done. We're also reminded of why Farscape gets so many female viewers, and has such a loyal fanbase: there's some serious good acting done on this show, which easily makes up for the 'man-in-suit'-vibe given off by Grayzas pet monster.
All in all, a return to form for Farscape, removing all my doubts about the suits at SciFi: they're clearly bonkers. Please, pretty please with sugar and a cherry, all you 'mericans out there; watch this when it air over your way - you won't regret it, trust me.
-Atropos Aletheia
